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Dr Peta L. Clode

Research Interests:

* Structure - function relationships in biological tissues.
* Biomineralisation processes - visit the biomineralisation group website.
* Metal uptake in biological systems.
* Analytical microscopy.
* Marine biology.
Specifically -
* Development & application of high resolution secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS) to biology and biomedicine.
* Biological X-ray Microanalysis, EFTEM & EELS.
* Scleractinian coral calcification - transport of calcium; biomineralisation of calcium carbonate skeleton
* Carbon fixation and utilisation - symbiont and host physiology of scleractinian corals.
* Differences between zooxanthellate and azooxanthellate corals and larval and mature growth stages.
* Iron physiology, metabolism and biomineralisation in marine molluscs.
* Growth and taxonomic features of chitons..

Areas of Expertise:

* Microscopy techniques (SEM, TEM, SIMS, EDS X-ray microanalysis)
* Low temperature preparation methods
* Coral physiology
* Biomineralisation & ion transport

Image of zooxanthella
Image of Peta SCUBA diving
 Image of a coral reef

Current Researchers and Students:

Dr Jeremy Shaw (Postdoc): Biomineralisation in marine molluscs.

Mrs Tanya Armstrong (PhD): Growth stages of the zoonotic cestode, Echinococcus multilocularis.

Ms Hanna Borowski (PhD): Cryptosporidium surface epitopes and their role in host cell invasion.

Mr Edd Stockdale (PhD): Iron metabolism and physiology in marine molluscs.

Mr Victor Wong (Honours): Synthesis of nanoparticles by plant cells.

Ms Rachel Butler (Honours): Assessing the impact of dust loading on vegetation in the Pilbara.

Mr Ben Padman (Undergraduate): Characterisation of biologically-synthesised ferritin nanoparticles.


Additional Current Projects:

  • Interaction of Cryptosporidium life cycle stages with aquatic biofilm communities - with Prof Andrew Thompson, Murdoch University; Dr Paul Monis, SA Water; Prof Merv Olsen, University of Calgary (ARC Discovery). PHD SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE - Contact Peta or click here for more information.
  • Chiton fauna inhabiting the Swan River Estuary - biomineralisation research team (SCRIP funded). HONOURS SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE - Contact Peta or click here for more information.
  • Identifying limitations to the establishment of microbial communities and sustainable nutrient cycling in bauxite-processing residue sand under rehabilitation - with Dr Dan Murphy, UWA & ALCOA (ARC Linkage). APA(I) SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE - Contact Peta or click here for more information.
  • Establishment of a Biomineralisation Research team at UWA (FNAS seed funds)
  • Nitrogen metabolism in symbiotic marine algae (UWA Research Grant)
  • Metal processing by dendritic cells and osteoclasts - with Dr Luis Filgueira and Dr Martin Saunders, UWA (NIH, USA)

NanoSIMS images from a coral
 SEM image of wallaby hair

Recent Publications:

Borowski, H., Clode, P.L. and Thompson, R.C.A. (2008). Active invasion and / or encapsulation? A reappraisal of host cell parasitism by Cryptosporidium. Trends in Parasitology In press.

Hough, R.M., Noble, R.R.P., Hitchen, G.J., Hart, R., Reddy, S.M., Saunders, M., Clode, P., Vaughan, D., Lowe, J., Gray, D.J., Anand, R.R., Butt, C.R.M. and Verrall, M. (2008). Naturally occurring gold nanoparticles and nanoplates. Geology 36(7):571-574.

Shaw J.A., Macey, D.J., Clode, P.L., Brooker, L.R., Webb, R.I., Stockdale, E., and Binks, R.M. (2008). Methods of sample preparation of epithelial tissue in chitons (Mollusca: Polyplacophora). American Malacological Bulletin 25:35-41.

Clode, P.L., Stern, R. and Marshall, A.T. (2007). Subcellular imaging of isotopically labeled carbon compounds in a biological sample by ion microprobe (NanoSIMS). Microscopy Research and Technique 70(3):220-229. DOI:10.1002/jemt.20409.

Herrmann, A.M., Clode, P.L., Fletcher, IR, Nunan N., Stockdale, E.A., O'Donnell, A.G. and Murphy, D.V. (2007). A novel method for the study of the biophysical interface in soils using nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry. Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry 21:29-34. DOI: 10.1002/rcm.2811.

Herrmann, A.M., Ritz, K., Nunan, N., Clode, P.L., Pett-Ridge, J., Kilburn, M.R., Murphy, D.V., O’Donnell, A.G. and Stockdale, E.A. (2007). Nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry – a new analytical tool in biogeochemistry and soil ecology: A review article. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 39(8):1835-1850. DOI: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2007.03.011.

Marshall, A.T, Clode, P.L., Russell, R., Prince, K. and Stern, R. (2007). Electron and ion microprobe analysis of calcium distribution and transport in coral tissues. Journal of Experimental Biology 210:2453-2463.

Paterson, H.L., Pesant, S., Clode, P., Knott, B. and Waite, A. (2007). Systematics of a rare radiolarian Coelodiceras spinosum Haeker (Sarcodinia: Actinopoda: Phaeodaria: Coelodendridae). Deep-Sea Research Part II 54:1094-1102.

Clode, P.L. (2006). Charge contrast imaging of biomaterials in a variable pressure scanning electron microscope. Journal of Structural Biology 155(3):505-511. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2006.04.004.

Neethling, W.M.L., Hodge, A.J., Clode, P. and Glancy, R. (2006). A multi-step approach in anti-calcification of glutaraldehyde preserved bovine pericardium. Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 47(6):711-718.
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